HERTZ

Walden W. Shaw Livery Co. (1924-1927)
Chicago, Illinois

This is a Hertz radiator emblem (1924-1927)    mjs
Size: 67mm high 66mm wide   MM: Fox

John Hertz had been hired by Walden W Shaw to help develop the Walden W Shaw Livery Company business and by 1921 Hertz was in control of the company, which by then was producing the Ambassador car, a successor to the Shaw automobile (see Shaw). 

John Hertz was interested in the idea of leasing cars as well as selling cars and, in 1923, he bought the Chicago car rental company founded by Walter L Jacobs. In October 1924 John Hertz abandoned the 75 hp Ambassador and decided to offer a 25 hp six-cylinder version in either sedan or touring form and to make the car available for sale or for lease.

He renamed the car the Hertz and continued it in production into 1927. Then Hertz decided that leasing the cars was a much better business prospect than making them. The Hertz car was discontinued late in 1927 and thereafter John Hertz offered his "drive it yourself" service using cars produced by other manufacturers. The Hertz car rental firm continues to this day (as of 2020).

Emblems

The following Hertz automobile rental guide and directory shows the Hertz radiator emblem:

Hertz Rental Guide (1926) ms

The red, white and black enamel Hertz radiator emblem shown above at the top of this post is extremely rare.

The following is a red, white and blue enamel version of this Hertz radiator emblem. This Hertz radiator emblem is also extremely rare.

This is a Hertz radiator emblem (1924-1927)    kmc
Size: poss 66mm high 66mm wide   MM: Unknown (poss Fox)

There is also a plain metal version of this Hertz radiator emblem, which is sometimes found painted, see examples shown below. These Hertz radiator emblems are very rare.

This is a Hertz radiator emblem (1924-1927)     sam
Size: 67mm high 66mm wide   MM: Unknown (poss Fox)

This is a Hertz radiator emblem (1924-1927)    mjs
Size: 67mm high 66mm wide   MM: Fox

The following is a different, slightly smaller blue painted Hertz radiator emblem. This Hertz radiator emblem is very rare.

This is a Hertz radiator emblem (1924-1927)    kmc
Size: 64mm high 64mm wide    MM: Unknown

Emblem collectors should beware, as there are reproduction Hertz emblems with shiny flat backs and lacking in front face detail. 

The following Hertz "Drivurself System" radiator emblem also appears to be a reproduction emblem. If there is an original version of this Hertz emblem, it would be extremely rare.

This is a reproduction Hertz emblem  ms